Dealership Blog

* Check Oil Level Regularly.

* Change oil & filter every 4,000 miles.  

* Lube all grease-able tie rods, ball joints, shafts, universal joints and suspension parts.

* Check gear lube in front and rear differentials, top off gear lube - applies to 4wd and rear drive vehicles.

* Check transfer case fluids (4wd) top off when necessary.

* Do not flush brake fluids. Do not flush power steering fluid.

* We do not recommend paying extra for “high mileage” oil.

* Do not flush transmissions with solvent based cleaners.

* We do recommend transmission fluid & filter exchanges.

* Transmission flushes without solvent based cleaners are ok if the transmission has a metal screen instead of a replaceable filter.

* Some vehicles require synthetic blend oil.

* Some Suvs & Pickups take between 6 to 7 quarts of oil.

* 07 and newer GM V8’s should have a factory oil filter.

* Get a second opinion on extra repairs and fluid flushes.

* Mail or drop off a copy of your oil change receipt to:

  Grand Chute Auto 300 N. Lynndale Dr. Appleton 54914 or e-mail receipt to [email protected] to keep limited warranty coverage valid.

We do not recommend using E-85 gasoline, even if your vehicle is set up for it. Some local gas sellers are now offering gasoline with 15% ethanol (alcohol) in it for a few pennies less.

We recommend only using gasoline with 10% ethanol (alcohol). We feel that the few pennies you save using cheaper gas will actually cost you more in the end due to lower gas mileage. We feel ethanol alcohol is a little harder on your vehicle. We are not sure how well your vehicle will idle with 15% ethanol gasoline. Sometimes, as vehicles get older, the sensor that detects the amount of ethanol in the gasoline does not work as well as new and gives bad information to the engine computer. This can result in running issues.

Sometimes customers ask us if they should burn Premium gasoline. If your vehicle calls for it, you should use Premium for best performance.  There are Premium gasolines out there without ethanol alcohol. This type of gasoline will yield your best gas mileage and the extra cost might be worth it.

To figure out your gas mileage, you should average out miles put on by how many gallons used and do this for three full tanks. Try to fill the vehicle up all three times either warm or cold; this will give you the most accurate reading. You can use the gas mileage computer in your vehicle if you reset it after each fill-up, then average the three fill-ups out. Remember: city driving, stop and go driving, vehicles misfiring, and cold weather driving will significantly ding your gas mileage.

Use of these filters may result in: Service Engine Soon (SES) light may turn on. Transmission shifting concerns and clutch or band slipping. Drive ability concerns, including poor acceleration from a stop or limited engine RPM range.

Oil that is used on these air filter elements may be transferred onto the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor causing contamination of the sensor. As a result, the Grams per Second signal from the Mass Air Flow sensor may be low and any of the concerns listed above may occur.

If an aftermarket reusable air filter is used, inspect the Mass Air Flow sensor element and the air induction hose for contamination prior to replacing parts. If contaminated, the Mass Air Flow sensor may need cleaning with Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner sold at parts stores, or the sensor may need replacement.

The biggest concern I hear from our customers is about the harassment they have received after visiting car dealer's sales lots. They bemoan of the constant phone calls and texts of sales people "following up" or pestering them. There is NONE of that at Grand Chute Auto Sales. We are different. We provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision and we let you take your good-natured time. We've created a safe shopping, no hassle zone at 300 N. Lynndale Drive in Appleton, Wi.
 

Make sure you ask your oil change facility to lube all greaseable tie rods, ball joints, shafts, universal joints and suspension parts. Have them check gear lube in the front and rear differentials, plus top off the gear lube. This applies to 4x4s and rear drive vehicles. Check transfer case fluids (4x4s) and top off when necessary.

It is super important to keep fluid levels up. Fluid loss comes from seepage past seals over time. No seal was ever designed to keep all fluids and gear lube 100% in the gear case. Usually a couple of ounces of gear lube is all that is needed to bring levels up. When gear lube runs low, that’s what causes the bearings and gears to fail inside of the gear cases.
 

Make sure the gas cap is always tight. Please don’t drive on empty – you can damage the fuel pump. Once the gas gauge reads ¼ it is time for gas.

Once a month: walk around the vehicle and check all lights. Check tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge. Proper tire inflation levels are stamped on the tires. Over or under inflated tires are not safe. Vehicles with alloy wheels don’t hold pressure as well as steel wheels, especially in cold weather. Check alloy wheels more often. Vehicles with alloy wheels should be re torqued 50 miles after tire rotation. Some vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems, it is not uncommon for those low pressure lights to light up in cold weather.

Check oil level every 1,000 miles: change oil & filter every 4,000 miles. When checking oil, check for fluid leaks. During the summer water will drip from the a/c system and the a/c evaporator drain by the passenger side of the firewall. This is normal.

Change the transmission oil & filter: every 3 years or 40,000 miles whichever comes first. Please refrain from buying: power steering fluid flushes, brake fluid flushes, motor oil flushes, and motor vac services. These are high profit repairs and most often not necessary.

Every spring & fall: check belts for too many deep cracks (where the white cords show). Tiny cracks on the grooved side of the serpentine belt are normal. Check heater & radiator hoses for soft spots and bulges. Check air filter, breather, and pcv.

Every fall: check coolant for temperature & acidic content. Load test the battery, clean connections, and the top of the battery. Spray key holes in doors with silicone or WD-40. Wipe door rubber weather strips down with silicone. This keeps doors and locks from freezing. Check tire tread depth. Treads that are near or at the wear bars need the tires replaced before winter. Most of the vehicles you see in the ditch have poor tires.

Factory recalls are done by the manufacturers at their franchised dealerships. There is not charge to the customer. At Grand Chute Auto, we try and get all the recalls done before the vehicle is delivered. Sometimes, parts are not yet available. We disclose any unperformed open recalls at the point of sale. Factory recalls are usually good for the life of the vehicle. The manufacturer receives and maintains a list of owners for the models they sold from the state motor vehicle database and will send you information about any recalls available for your vehicle. You can call the new vehicle franchise for your model or look it up on line at https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ . You will just need your VIN.

On Saturdays in the month if February, our business hours will be 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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